help with vit D levels

Victoria, I was told my D levels were about 100 after taking supps and I needed to keep taking the supps.  That seemed strange as that should be a high reading according to these threads.  Now I find there are two different measurements used, ng/ml and nmol/L.

So I have to wait till January to find out if the reading is a high 100ng/ml or low to moderate 100nmol/L.  I don't even know what the initials are short for. 

30 ng/ml = 75 nmol/L

Does anyone from Australia have the answer to this? 

When I asked my onc about my Vit D being 40 at my last visit, he seemed not very concerned...I like him otherwise, and don't want to switch just for this, but would like to add someone else to the "treatment team" who is up on the cutting edge research b/w zinc, Vit D, diet, etc. and breast cancer.  Like my PCP, but he defers to the onc on anything cancer related, so back to square 1. 

Not sure whether I should try a naturopath, nutritionist, endocrinologist, DO???  Could those of you who feel like you've gotten good advice about Vit D issues let me know what kind of health care provider has been helping you?

 Thanks!

My med onc is also clueless about Vit D3 and BC but will order the test anytime I request it.  What's it to him since bloodwork is being done routinely anyway.  If my insurance doesn't care, why should he, it's just another note on his written orders.  Luna5 - agree with your Sheesh!

My experience has been that the doctors are either ignorant or not willing to believe in the power of 5000 IU of Vit D3 taken daily. THey would rather you get 50000 IU of Vit D2 once a week (although there is a lot of research that shows that D2 does not help!). Insist on a blood test for Vit D levels every 6-12 months or every annual checkup. It is a simple and inexpensive test.

Everyone over 40 seems to be getting tested for Vit D levels. All the docs(PCP) in this part of Calif seem to be on board. It pertains to osteoporosis also. If your MO won't order it for you, try telling your PCP that you are afraid of getting osteoporosis & want to take preventative measures. Afterall,you have enough to deal with already. I was tested premenopausal & pre breast cancer. It's done routinely here.

It took me almost 2 years to get my D3 from 22 to 68 using 20,000 IU per day.  The first time I dropped my dosage to 15,000 IU my D3 dropped to 58 so upped again to 20,000 IU per day....the got it into the 70s....now finally with time in the sun and the 20,000 IU, got it too high at 114 so have cut  back.  Have a "double check" with a dif doc coming in this week....if is still high -- I will finally be able to go on a more normal dosage for a while and see if I can maintain at a normal level.

DesignerMom...all I know is my husband's doc kept putting him on the weekly D2 to no affect... his D2 is still low and he won't listen to me about taking over the counter D3.

Doctors prescribe D2 because it's a prescription. D3 is over the counter. The prescription is also a "cya" for the doctor.

D2 is from plant sources.  D3 is from animal sources.  D3 is more "bioavailable" for your body to make use of it. 

The docs provide that mega-prescription of D2, but it seems to only help a random few.  I'm not discounting D2 entirely, as some are helped by it but most have noticed very little change with D2.  What good is a whole boatload of D2 if your body can only make use of a small portion of that?

With D3 so cheap and available (meaning to purchase, as well as bioavailable) that is my choice.

the second opinion I got from another oncologist, is currently testing my D3 level.  My PCP said that 31 was great.  The oncologist wants it higher then 60, I will find out in 4 weeks what his plan is.

The first oncologist did not get into supplements, The first time I went she had a treatment plan ready for that day, take tamoxifen and screenings.

The new onco, is going to come up with a plan over the next 4 weeks.

Leia: the drug company you mentioned sponsors the Vitamin D Council, so it's not surprising that they (Vitamin D Council) would endorse their products. I admit don't know anything about the product and whether it's better or worse than what you would find in your local drugstore.

Yeah, MaryNY you don't know. Whether the Vitamin D Council product is better. And neither do I.

I also have Vitmain D3 from NOW Vitamins. That cost $7 for a 3 month, 5000/day regimen. The Vitamin Council product is way more expensive.

Although, expensive compared to what. The "BioTech D3Plus" costs me, personally, I think $250/year. If I get Stage 4 breast cancer, The Avasitin will cost our society $90,000. For this last gasp effort, at my life. Put on all of you. You, the taxpayers, will have to pay for me. $90,000. So, I can live, miserably for three more months. And then die.

This is not rational. This is idiocy. This has to end.

Vitamin D IS the cure.

Why is everyone so enthralled with "Medical Industrial Complex" "studies?" And just ignoring common sense?

Common Sense. Like, eating whole and natural foods is better than processed "fake" foods. Yet, everyone eats the "fake" foods. And, getting out into the natural sun will give you "cancer." When human beings have been out in the natural sun for thousands of years, and no one got cancer.  

We have only gotten cancer from the sun in the past 60 years; after we all started eating all of his processed "food."

I don't eat "processed" food. I eat whole foods. And the sun is my friend. The source of Vitamin D. The two work in synergy.

The source of all natural foods is the sun. The source of our health is the sun. We need to all get back to this basic concept.  

And reject this current notion that we just need more "drugs" and other nonsense.

We have more cancer, now, than when the "War on Cancer" started, 50 years, ago.  And why is that? 

Well, it is because people don't eat real food, anymore.  And they don't get out in the sun, anymore. The true source of life. 

Leia, are you saying there was no cancer, say, 70 years ago?  Is it possible since less was known then, that cancer was around but called something else?  Actually, there are many on this board who did have family history of BC in their moms, grandmoms, aunts, so I'm sure that must go back at least into the 1930's.  What about the millions of people who eat processed food who don't get cancer - just lucky?  Please, I'm not being mean to you or anything but it's just not that simple.  There are many who also did not eat processed foods for many years pre-BC but they are still here.  Just wondering; please don't take offense.  I do agree that it probably has lots to do with the foods we eat but I also believe it has to do with the air we breathe, the stresses we endure, etc.   HUGS.

Ang7, I have never used sunscreen. My usual sun exposure is only in the summer, I walk one hour/day. And so I get the sun exposure for that hour but only, when it is sunny, in Seattle, WA. Which actually is not often. 

I do try to get as much Sun Vitamin D as I can, but since there isn't much sun I rely on supplements.  

What kind of skin cancer did you have?